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Tony Parker has moved to town

My Only Lyon

It’s now been a year since Tony Parker, the famous point guard who plays with the San Antonio Spurs, settled down in Lyon. He is now also the Chairman of Asvel, the Lyon-Villeurbanne basketball club. This position enables him to pursue his grand ambitions to raise France’s sporting profile.

On the programme: the upcoming launch of the Tony Parker Academy, an international educational project, a campus for the professional training of all actors involved in basketball. Tony Parker doesn’t intend to stop there, however, and is planning to create a new arena (a multifunction venue with more than 10,000 seats) with the support of local actors. The opening is scheduled for 2019. So who is the man behind the sporting and business figure? We met him to find out.

Why did you choose the city of Lyon for these projects?

I came here in 2007 with the Spurs. I knew a little bit about Lyon already, but this visit really won me over. That was when I started to imagine that I could make an investment in the ASVEL club. I had, of course, already thought about clubs in France. As I’m from Rouen, that could have been a natural choice. But Lyon has this combination of strong regional roots and an international vision. I like it a lot!

What is your first memory of Lyon?

When I was a boy, maybe about 10 or 11 years old, we came with my mother, who came here to visit friends. I think we visited everything there was to see. We didn’t know the city and it was an adventure for us. I often go to Tête d’Or Park
with my son, and it feels like I’m reliving the adventure every time we go. Later on, when I was playing for PSG at a professional level, I came to play against ASVEL (17-18 years old). But that time was really just a sports trip.

You’ve now settled down near Lyon. What do you like about life here?

First and foremost, I like the people here. People are really nice. I’m used to big cities. Lyon is a big city, but for me, it still feels like a village where everybody knows each other. It’s a very closed circle, but at the same time, people welcome you with open arms. We were made to feel like we were part of a family. Also, I like the finer things in life and I love food. On that score, there’s nowhere better to be than Lyon. From bigname restaurants to little local eateries, I like everything here!

Lyon, the capital of gastronomy... But can you combine being a gourmet and a high-level sportsman?

Yes, you just need to find the right balance and not over-indulge in the things you like. But I will admit that I have a good appetite and I make the most of it during the summer.

Lastly, what is your best memory of this city?

I’ve already experienced loads of great things here and I know that a lot of big events are coming up for me... So, I’d say all the memories that I’m creating right now.